Run run run run run run run run

**Retrieved from Friendster blog**

Watching football as a child with my family (usually just the Superbowl, I think), I always remember my mother cheering someone breaking away with the ball by chanting, "Run run run run run run run run run run!!!!"

Last Sunday, 11/6, was a momentous day--the Robert's Snow auction started, it was a good friend's birthday, and it was the NYC Marathon. And Rose! Rose ran it! She said "It was the most exciting, difficult, and rewarding day of my life." I can believe it.

I watched the race from the West side of 1st Avenue and 73rd, right near our apartment, in front of Session 73. Lots of early beer drinking going on (not yet for me, I was jittery on ice coffee)--it was a gorgeous, gorgeous day. It was so exciting watching the runners and cheering them on. We were at mile 17. I loved reading people's names on their shirts and cheering them on. "Go, Moe, Go!" "You can do it, Kristin!" "Good job!" There was a group next to us cheering on members of Team in Training who were running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I was surprised at how many of the runners were still peppy and energetic and smiling, pumping up the crowd, giving us all high fives. Others were focused, tired, looking straight ahead, looking down, many were walking. Yet no matter how miserable they looked, they couldn't help but crack a smile when we cheered them on by name.

We saw people running in costumes--Elvis, ballerinas, elks, rhinos, one guy walked by in full Storm Trooper armor. A runner dressed as testicles ran by. Huge smile on the testicles...uh.."face."

We finally spotted Rose running, making a beeling towards us--when she reached us, we threw sparkling confetti at her. She looked great--big smile on her face as she said, "This is so miserable." An older man, one of the runners, stopped near us. He grabbed a beer from someone on the sidelines and started drinking it. A few minutes later, he crouched down and smoked a joint! Then asked a girl to get him two more bottles of beer from the bar. She did. He ran off with them. "Check the listings tomorrow! You'll see, I'll finish!" Crazy.

Chilled on our terrace with beers in the afternoon waiting for Rose to come home. Savored the rare Spring-like sun. Rose returned, tired yet triumphant, wrapped in the tell-tale silver wrap, medal around her neck. She finished! Amazing. Then onto the Banshee for beers, then a pasta dinner. We ate pasta with her in solidarity.

Watching the marathon made me consider doing it someday, even though it never appealed to me before. I mean, 26.2 miles! Rose finished under 6 hours. I imagine I'd take at least 5. That's a helluva long time to be out there. But as I get older, I'm starting to realize that I need these challenges, these goals. Then again, I went jogging on Sunday morning along the river--just a quick 3 mile run--and as I ran the last mile, I thought, geez, could I really run 26 of these?

My dad was in town this past weekend. We had a great time, saw Fiddler on the Roof, walked everywhere, ate a lot. We went to breakfast on Sunday with Lisa and Rose. And I decided right there at that breakfast that I would enter into the lottery to run the marathon, and if I got in, that would decide it for me. I'll run if I get in. I can't believe it! But hey, I've been looking for something new to add to my list of things to do before I die, so I'll add "run a marathon," and then cross it off the list in a few years. Dad said he'd come watch if I ran it.

Anyway, Rose is going to do it again next year! Anyone else want to run with us? Or at least enter the lottery? If I run it, I hope my mom will come and cheer me on. Run run run run run run run run run run!

November 14, 2005